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ψωροκώσταινα. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ψωροκώσταινα, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ψωροκώσταινα in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ψωροκώσταινα you have here. The definition of the word
ψωροκώσταινα will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ψωροκώσταινα, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Greek
Etymology
ψωρο- (psoro-, “poor-”, from ψώρα "scabies" or "mange") + Κώσταινα (Kóstaina, feminine suffix for "wife of Kώστας"), see Κωνσταντίνος (Konstantínos).
Reputedly, the nickname of a very poor woman with surname Χατζηκώστα (Chatzikósta) or Χατζηκώσταινα (Chatzikóstaina) who contributed her meagre possession at a fund during the 1820s.
- Patrick Leigh Fermor likens the name to the English "Mangy Betty" (see quotation below.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pso.ɾoˈko.ste.na/
- Hyphenation: ψω‧ρο‧κώ‧σται‧να
Noun
ψωροκώσταινα • (psorokóstaina) f
- (metonymically) Greece, an affectionate name used by Greeks of their homeland - it has intimations of poverty and affection.
- 2005, Sofka Zinovieff, Οδός Ευρυδίκης (Eurydice Street), Athens: Dioptra, page 35:
"Καλωσορίσατε στην Ψωροκώσταινα" μου έγραψε ένας φίλος με e-mail όταν φτάσαμε στην Αθήνα ...- "Kalosorísate stin Psorokóstaina" mou égrapse énas fílos me e-mail ótan ftásame stin Athína ...
- "Welcome to Psorokóstaina" a friend e-mailed me when I arrived in Athens ...
1958, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Mani, London: John Murray, page 208:But look how he [Venizelos] found Greece when he started. Do you remember what we used to call her Psorokóstaina - Mangy Betty! And look how he left her, one of the nations of the West with steady frontiers, double the size, friends with Turkey ...- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Usage notes
- The nickname as a female name, with initial capital Ψωροκώσταινα.
Declension
Usually in the singular.
Further reading